The Old Wife
Text: Thomas Durfey. Tune: Anon, from the
play Don Quixote.
The Old Wife she sent to the miller, her daughter,
To grind her grist quickly and so returned back.
The Miller so worked it that in eight months after,
Her belly was filled as full at her sack.
Young Robin so pleased her that when she came home
She gaped like a stuck-pig and stared like a mome
She hoydened, she skampered she hollowed and whooped!
And all the day long, this, this was her song:
"Hoy - was e'er maiden so 'lerricompooped'?"
"Oh Nelly" cried Ceelie, "thy cloths are all mealy,
Both back side and belly are rumpled all o'er!,
You mope now, and slobber, why what a pox ail you?
I'll go to the Miller and know all, ye whore!"
She went, and the miller so grinding did ply
She came cutting capers afoot and half high
She waddled, she stroddled, she hollowed and whooped!
And all the day long, this, this, was her song:
"Hoy - were e'er two sisters so ierricompooped'?"
Then Mary o' the dairy, a third of their number,
Would fain know the cause they so jigged it about.
The Miller, her wishes long would not encumber,
But in the old manner the secret made out -
Thus Ceelie, and Nelly, and Mary the Mild
Were just about harvest-time all big with child,
They danced in the hay, they hollowed and whooped!
And all the day long, this, this was their song:
"Hoy - were e'er three sisters so 'lerricompooped'?"